Oil-refining apparatus for combustion-engine lubrication



G. H. GREENHALGH ET AL 1,764,298

OIL REFINING APPARATUS FOR COMBUSTION'ENGINE LUBRICATION June 17, 1930.

Filed 001: 16. 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 I INVENTORS A TTOR/VEYS June 17, 1930. H, GREENHALGH ET AL, 1,764,298

OIL REFINING APPARATUS FOR COMBUSTION ENGINELUBBICATION Filed Oct. 16. 1922 s Sheets-Sheet 2 I7 .6. .247 4% 78 75a, I

INVENTORS hrromvne June 17, 1930. G. H. GREENHALGH ET AL 1,764,298

OIL REFINING APPARATUS FOR COMBUSTION ENGINE LUBRIUATION Filed 0012. 16. 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 'IIIIIIII Patented June 17, 1930 STATES PATENT 'QFFI'CE GEORGE H. GREENHALGH AN D ERNEST J. SVEETLAND, F HAZLETON, PENNSYLVANIA;

SAID GREENHALGH ASSIGNOR T0 SAID SWEETLAND OIL-REFINING APPARATUS FOR COMBUSTION-ENGINE LUBRICATION Application filed Qctober 16, 1922. Serial No. 594,723.

The present invention relates to oil puritiers and more especially to oil refining apparatus for internal combustion engine lubrication.

It is the object of this invention to provide an oil refining device for internal combustion engine lubricating oil which will vaporize any diluents, such as kerosene and gasoline, which have entered the oiling system 19 through leakage past the various pistons,

valves and joints of the engine. These contaminating liquids have little, or no, lubricating properties and since they are, liquid and not solid, cannot be removed by filtration. It is the purpose of this invention to provide simple, effectual means for evaporating and driving oil from the oil, all of these impurities without causing changes in the oil itself anclto thereby eifect substantial increase in the efiiciency of the engine lubricating system, while at the same time reducing the amount of oil necessary for engine lubrication.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an oil refining device which may be heated by the exhaust gases of the engine to the temperature for most efiiciently evaporating the liquid diluents mixed with the oil and which may be automatically maintained at such a temperature, to provide a device of such nature that the rate of oil flow therethrough will be automatically dependent on the temperature of the distilling chamber and the viscosity and tempera-v ture of the oil, and of such nature that its heat absorbing and transferring qualities, and hence its temperature, will be readily controllable and adaptable to various types would be heated to so high a temperature that the lubricating properties of the oil were diminished or destroyed. These changes in result were often present with these former devices even when especially designed and arranged for the particular engine to which they were attached. The chaotic results obtained when such a device was transferred to an engine for which it had not been designed, can be imagined, and the elimination of the foregoing troubles effected by this invention, is an indication of its value'to the art. V

Like numerals designate like parts throughout the several figures of the attached drawings. 5

Figure 1 is a sectional view taken in vertical plane of the improved distillator;

Figure 2 is a view in front elevation of theimproved distillator;

Figure 3 is a top view of the device shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4 discloses by sectional view taken in a vertical plane, one modification of the invention;

Figure 5 is a bottom view of the device shown in Figure 4;

Figure G'is a vertical sectional view of a further modification of the invention;

Figure 7 is a bottom view. of the'device shown in Figure 6;

Figure 8 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of a modified form of a part of the device shown in Figure 6;

Figure 9.is an elevation of a detail of the thermostat device disclosed in Figure 6;

Figure 10 is a vertical section showing a modification of the thermostatic control disclosed in Figure 6;

Figure 10 is a vertical sectional view and discloses a modification of the device shown in Figure 10; J

Figure 11 is a partially broken vertical section disclosing another modification of the invention taken in partial section;

Figure 12 is a horizontal vertical sectional view looking in the direction of the arrows 12 12 Figure 11.

v Figure 13 is a fragmentaryvertical see tional view of a modification of the device shown in Figure 11.

The complete vaporizing refiner installation disclosed in Figure 1 consists of a vaporizing chamber 15 arranged in a casing 17 which forms an enlargement of the engine exhaust conduit 19. The vaporizing chamber 15 is provided with an oil inlet 21, an oil outlet 23, a vapor out-let25 and a heat absorbing portion 27.

The casing 17 is provided with a detachable cover 18 to which the vaporizing chamber 15 is adjustably secured by the nuts and washers 30, threaded upon the oil and gas connections 21, 23 and 25 which pass through slots in the casing cover 18. Thus the vaporizingchamber 15 and its heat absorbing portion 27 maybe advanced into the conduit 19, to cause more or less heat to be transferred from the exhaust gases to the vaporizing chamber and its contents.

The used lubricating oil to be purified by vaporization of the admixed contaminating fluids enters through the oil inlet 21 which is provided with a projection 22 to prevent the incoming oil clinging to the wall of vaporizing chamber '15, and thereby reaching the oil outlet 23'without having been purified. short of the opposite wall of chamber 15 and is in the direct path of vapors rising from -oil being refined in the lower part of the chamber 15. These vapors heat the enter- :ing oilywhi-le passing through and dropping from the end of this projection 22. From projection 22 the oil falls to the lower part of the chamber 15 and is heatedby conduction from the heat absorbing portion 27, to such temperature as may be necessary to vaporize contaminating liquids mixed with it, but not to high enough temperatures to produce changes in the oil itself. As the oil accumulates in chamber 15 it rises until outflow occurs at outlet 23, the vaporized impurities passing oil through vapor outlet 25 to any suitable point of discharge. 'The vaporizing chamber .15 is provided with a removable cap '16 for cleaning it.

By removing cover 18 of casing 17 and the pipe attachments to the oil and gas connections 21, 23 and 25, the vaporizing chamber 15 may be removed from the casing 17, and after taking off cap 16, conveniently cleaned inside and out- The exterior construction of the device show-n in Figure 1 will be made plain by an inspection of F igures 2 and 3.

The maintaining of such temperatures in chamber 15 as will evaporate contaminating liquids such as gasoline and the fuel oils which leak past the piston rings and dilute the crank case oil, but not injuriously affect the oil to be purified is, of course, of utmost importance if the device is to work satisfactori'ly. Ability to control these 'temperw The projection 22 terminates just tures within definite limits is therefore most important, especially in view of the varying quantity and temperature of exhaust gases from various types and sizes of engines. Several modifications which may be used, separately or in conjunction, to satisfactorily accomplish temperature control, will be disclosed.

The first, already described in conjunction with Figure 1, consists of so mounting the vaporizing chamber and its heat absorbing surface, that it may be advanced into or withdrawn from, the direct stream of the exhaustgases from which heat is obtained.

A second modification is disclosed by Fig ure 4. Here the vaporizing chamber 15 is. provided with heat absorbing fins or ribs 31 across its bottom, as will be most plainly seen from Figure 5 which is abottom view of the chamber 15 These heat absorbing fins 31, Figures i and 5 may be replaced by pins 32, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, and either the fins 31 or pins 32 may be joined together into a separable heat absorbing member 33 attached to the vaporizing chamber 15 by such means as the screw 34. When mounted in this manner, it will be evident that various sizes of heat absorbing members may be interchangeable on a single vaporizing chamber to change the amount of heat absorbed from the exhaust gases and transferred to the vaporizing chamber. Or, if desired, a heat insulating pad 35, Figure 8, may replace the heat absorbing members to reduce the heat going into the vaporizer. The heat absorbing characteristics of the vaporizing chamber may thus be varied to the needs of many diiferent engines and to the temperature and volume of their exhaust gases in such manner that a maximum efliciency of vaporization may be always attained with only one style and size of vaporizer.

The vaporizing chambers shown in Figures 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8, are not shown as provided with adjustable mounting upon the casing cover 18, but it will be evident that such-adjustable mounting may be substituted for the rigid mountings shown.

In Figure 6 the oil inlet 21 is shown provided with an adjustable thermostatic element 37 which actuates the conical oil control valve 38. The element 37 is expansible under heat and as the temperature of the infiowing oil rises the valve 38 is opened Wider, for at the higher temperatures the vaporizing chamber is able to take care of greater quantities of oil satisfactorily in a giventime. As the oil cools the element 37 "contracts and reduces the oil flow to meet the reduced capacity-of the vaporizing chamber. Element 37 is provided with an adjustable mounting comprising a screw 40 threaded into a ported member d1 which is in turn secured in the bore of, oil inlet 21.

A screwdriver or like implement may be inserted through this oil inlet 21 to engage the head of screw to turn it in or out to adjust the opening of valve 38 for a given temperature. The ports 42 in member 41 (best seen in Fig. 9) permit passage of the oil without obstructing its free flow.

Figure 10 discloses a modification of the thermostatic control of oil inlet to the vaporizing chamber (shown in fragmentary form). The oil inlet 21 is here shown as having a projecting portion 22 extending into the interior of the vaporizing chamber 15, and provided with a conical oil flow control valve 38 in its bottom. This oil control valve 38 is mounted upon one end 38 will be increased, cooling will produce an opposite effect and reduce the oil flow.

Figure 10 discloses a modification of the thermostatic oil inflow control disclosed in Figure 10. The elements are identical with those employed in the device shown in Figure 10, the modification comprising the mounting of thermostatic element 37 and valve 38 on the exterior surface of projection 22 which differs from projection 22 by having its valve seat tapered in the opposite direction. This mounting of the thermostatic element 37 allows it to be operated by the temperature of the vaporizing chamber rather than by the temperature of the incoming oil, so that the inflow of oil is directly dependent on the temperature of the vaporizing chamber. The thermostatic con trols disclosed in Figures 10 and 10 are especially suitable for their purposes, as they are at once simple and rugged of construction, provide unobstructed oil passages, and as the oil is discharged through the opening in the bottom of projection 22, it washes the valve 38 and its seat free of any obstructing dirt or deposit.

Engine lubricating oil during its travel through the various bearings, ports and chambers of the engine, picks up dirt and metal or carbon particles. Then often the 5:5 oil will be splashed against the pistons or cylinder walls and burned to carbon, or will pick up carbon deposited by partial combustion of the engine fuel. These impurities are often carried with the oil to the vaporizing chamber, where under the influence of heat and the cessation of rapid motion, they are precipitated on the vaporizing chamber bottom. These precipitated particles gradually form a coating or layer over the vaporizing chamber bottom and inter fere with heat transmission to the oil therein. To keep the vaporizing chamber clean and heating conditions stable, means have been provided as disclosed in Figures 11, 12 and 13, to detach this coating of impurities and so mix its components with the oil that they will be flushed out, with the outflowing oil, through the oil outlet 23. 1

Referring to Figures 11 and 12, a rodis provided at its lower end with cross bars 46, while its other end projects upward through the stutfing box 47 in the top 16 of the vaporizing chamber 15. Above this stuffing box 47 the rod 45 has a slotted top 48 which is engaged by the flattened end 49 of the shaft 50, which projects inwardly through the stuffing box 51 in the casing 17. Shaft is provided with an enlarged top 52 which may be conveniently grasped to rotate this shaft and drive through the means of the flattened end 49 and slotted top 48, the rod 45 and cross-bars 46 which serve to dislodge and stir into suspension any precipitates upon the interior surfaces of the heat absorbing portion 27, these precipitates then being washed out through the oil outlet 23 by the oil flowing out of the vaporizing chamber. To provide clearance for rod 45 and the cross-bars 46, so that they may be withdrawn when top 16 is taken off for cleaning purposes, the projection 22 may be shortened or distorted as shown in Figure 12. In this modification one of the interchangeable heat-exchanging elements 33 may be attached to the bottom of the heatabsorbing chamber 27, if'desir'ed, and athermostatic oil inflow control 37* may be attached to'the oil inlet tube 22". a I

In the vaporizing chamber 15*, shown in Figure 13, a cross-bar 46 is provided with prongs 53 for dislodging and stirring up precipitates on the vaporizing chamber bottom, this cross-bar 46 being mounted upon a rod 45 which is anal'ogous to, and driven in a similar method to, the rod 45 in Figure 11.

Referring again to Figure 11, it will be seen that the addition of the cleaning device does not interfere with the removal of casing cover 18, or with the removal of the V&1D01."

izing chamber 15 attached thereto, for the slotted head 48 is easily disengaged from the flattened end 49 when removal of the vaporizing chamber is desired, and just as easily re-engaged upon replacing it in the casing.

Various modifications of temperature control for'the vaporizer have been disclosed, controlling the heat taken in or absorbed by the vaporizing chamber, and controlling the rate at which oil flows through this vaporizing chamber, it will be evident that any ofthese modifications may supplement each other or be used separately, that other devices might be substituted, such as other well known thermostatically controlled valves, or

me p

other forms ofheat absorbing portions, etc, without departing from the spirit of the in vention or impairing the efficiency of the device. And further, that the casing need not be a part of the direct exhaust conduit of the internal combustion engine, but might equally well be a branch of such conduit, or an attachment thereto and still perform all of its useful functions, that tie various parts and forms shown are for illustrative purposes only, and that many changes of form and structure, in addition to those mentioned above, might be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the following claims.

hat we claim is:

1. In a device of the class described for use with internal combustion engines to refine the used lubricating oil thereof, the combination of a vaporizing chamber adapted to be .projected into the exhaust gases of the engme, a cover plate for closing the opening throu 'h which the va orizing chamber is extended into the exhaust gases, and means for adjusting the relative positions of said cover plate and said vaporizing chamber to vary the area of said vaporizing chamber exposed to the exhaust gases.

2. A device for refining used internal combustion engine lubricating oil to remove contaminating liquids mixed therewith, vaporizing chamber having heat transfer surfaces heated by the engine exhaust gases, an oil inlet, thermostatic control means in said oil inlet to govern the rate of flow in accordance with the temperature of said chamber, mechanical means located permanently in said chamber for dislodging sediment from the interior of the vaporizing chamber ator near its contact with the said heat transfer means to permit the fluid passing over the said surfaces to sweep the said surfaces clear.

3. In a refining device for removing contaminating liquids from lubricating oil of internal combustion engines, an exhaust gas manifold, a vaporizing chamber, means to mount the chamber adjacent to and partially within said manifold, said means including a removable wall on said exhaust manifold, said vaporizing chamber having supporting projections extending through said wall, said projections being hollow and serving as conduits for the liquid passing into and out of said vaporizing chamber andmeans to adjust the position of said vaporizing chamber with respect to said wall to vary the rate of heat transfer.

4. A device for refining used internal combustion engine lubricating oil to remove contaminating liquids therefrom, which comprises, a vaporizing chamber having heat transfer surfaces adapted to be heated by the en ine exhaust gases, said vaporizing chamber having supporting projections, :said projections extending thru the exhaust lubricating oil from said engine into said chamber, temperature controlled means dependent on said chamber temperature to control the inflow rate of oil into said chamber, outlet means for discharging the clarilied oil, vapor outlet means for the vaporized dilu nts and internally contained externally operated scraping elementto maintain the vaporizing chamber in a clean condition.

vaporizing chamber for the lubrioil of an internal combustion encating L gine, b0 vaporize and remove dlluents mixed therewith said vaporizing chamber being mounted on the exhaust gas manifold with a part thereof projecting into the manifold of the internal combustion engine in which the lubricating oil is to be treated, said chamber comprising a reservoir secured to said exhaust gas manifold, projections between said vaporizing chamber. and said manifold, said projections being adapted to allow the movement of said chamber relative to said manifold, said projections further being hollow and acting as conduits for said oil, one of which acts as avapor outlet from said reservoir, a thermostatic controlvalve in one of said projections adapted to regulate the incoming oil in proportion to the chamber temperature, heat transfering means provided with radiating fins attached to and projecting into said manifold and externally operated means to internally clean said vaporizing chamber.

In testimony whereof we have ailixed our signatures to this specification.

GEORGE-H. GREENHALGH. ERNEST J. SWEETLAND. I 

